Container with dispensing closure arrangement



June 1943- vv. F. STRAUB 2,320,485

CONTAINER WITH DISPENSING CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 23, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l nn. #7 -m 'lIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I June 1, 1943. w. F. STRAUB CONTAINER WITH DISPENSING CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 23, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 W2; Wu,

Patented June 1, 1943 CONTAINER WITH DISPENSING CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT Walter F. Straub, Chicago, 111., assignor to W. F. Straub & Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 23, 1940, Serial No. 353,802

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in dispensing containers and more particularly concerns a novel closure arrangement for containers of this type that may be used to excellent advantage in dispensing syrupy liquids such as honey or the like which are subject to gumming or crystallization upon drying.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved container and novel dispensing closure arrangement which avoids the sticking of relatively movable parts due to gumming or crystallization thereon of syrupy or like material remaining after dispensing from the container.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an improved container having a novel slidable dispensing closure arrangement which always remains substantially free for unrestrained and easy opening and closing action even though a residuum of material may run between or be left upon the parts as a result of dispensing and crystallize or become gummy.

Another object is to provide an improved dispensing closure structure of this character which includes means for spacing and limiting the bearing engagement between the sliding closure and the adjacent structure so as to assure freedom from sticking of the relatively movable parts should some of the syrupy material from the container adhere to or remain upon such structure or the closure as a result of dispensing from the container.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved slidable dispensing closure construction wherein the closure slide is substantially prevented from dragging back with it during the opening movement such material as may tend to adhere to that portion of the inner face thereof which overlies the dispensing opening.

A further object is to provide a new and improved dispensing closure construction of the foregoing general character which assures a thoroughly sanitary condition in the interfacial space between the closure and its support by avoiding the entrance of undesirable matter thereinto.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding closure arrangement for dispensing containers embodying a novel guiding feature for the closure.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a fragmental perspective assembly view of a container and dispensing closure embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the top of the container taken substantially in the plane of line 3-3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 4-4 of Fi 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 6--5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modified form of the invention showing the closure slide or cover in open position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. '7 but showing the cover in closed position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially in the plane of line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

A container embodying the features of the invention may include a top wall or closure cap having a dispensing aperture of limited area adjacent to one side so that material may be poured in a controlled stream. To protectively close the dispensing aperture during periods of nonuse of the container, and also to enable selective cutting off of a poured stream of material cleanly and substantially without dribbling or running of material over the exterior of the container after a dispensing operation, the top wall or cap may be equipped with a sliding closure arrangement for the dispensing aperture which includes a cover adapted to be manipulated by a finger of the hand in which the container is held while dispensing.

Where the material to be dispensed is of a syrupy or like character subject to gumming or crystallization upon drying, the residuum of material which may run or be drawn under the sliding cover as a result of dispensing may have an adhesive effect causing the cover to stick and rendering it diflicult to open or close. According to the present invention, however, means is provided for avoiding any such difficulty in manipulation of the cover. This is effected, firstly, by maintaining a spaced relationship between the cover and the underlying portion of the top wall of the container so that should any residuum of material collect in the space therebetween it will not have any restraining influence upon the cover even though it should become gummy or crystals lized. Secondly, that portion of the cover which engages over the dispensing aperture and thus may come directly into contact with the material being poured is cleaned 01f as the cover is drawn open so that adherent material will not be dragged back with the cover or onto the underlying portion of the top wall.

In order to assure a thoroughly sanitar condition by avoiding the entrance of dirt or insects such as ants into the space under the cover, means such as downwardly extending flanges on the cover may be provided for closing on the space. Such flange may also assist in guiding the cover in its opening and closing movements by engaging with flanges at the sides of the dispensing opening.

The features of the invention may be embodied in a dispensing container which include a can type body I having a friction cover or cap II forming a closure for the top of the container (Figs. 1 and 3). At the top the container body may have a rim member I2 which frictionally receives the cap II and defines a large opening through which the contents of the container may be poured without restraint when the friction cap is removed. A sealing liner I3 is arranged to be frictionally secured between the rim I2 and the cap. Such a container is particularly adapted for use with viscous material such as table syrup, honey, and the like which may dry out and turn gummy or crystallize when exposed to the air, especially when present in only small amounts.

In a depressed base wall I4 in the cap II is formed a limited opening or dispensing aperture I5 through which may be poured, a relatively small, controlledstream of material. In the present instance the dispensing aperture I5 has the pouring edge thereof formed to correspond to the periphery of the base wall I4 coincident with an angularly disposed wall flange I6 of the cap. Through this arrangement the portion of the base wall I 6 which is adjacent to the pouring edge of the dispensing aperture acts as a spout to assist in controlling and molding a discharging stream of material. A laterally projecting integral spout flange I! on the edge of the cap H in alinement with the spout portion of the wall flange I6 avoids running down of material along the outside of the container after pouring. The side and rear edges or the aperture may be formed substantially rectangularly although they may be of any other suitable shape.

During storage or shipment of the container and before the material is to be dispensed through the aperture I5 the liner I3 forms a liquid tight seal (Figs. 2 and 3) but may easily have an opening formed therein by severing and removing a portion thereof generally corresponding in size to the aperture I5. A line of weakening or scoring I8 (Fig. 3) maybe provided in the liner along the pouring edge of the opening to facilitate such severance.

A protective closure for the dispensing aperture I5 is provided by an elongated, generally flat sliding cover member I 9. Means for retaining the cover and guiding it for longitudinal opening and closing movement-relative to the dispensing aperture 1 5 may comprise respective forward and rear pairs o'f'lugs or tongue 20 and 2I struck up from the base wall HI of the friction cap and arranged to engage the sides of the cover. To facilitate its manipulation the cover I9 has a handle 22 which may be formed at an intermediate point as a transverse substantially right angular fold. The limits of opening and closing movements of the cover I9 are defined in the present instance by engagement of it rear and front ends, respectively, with the wall flange I6 of the friction cap, although one or both of such movements may be defined by engagement of the tongues 20 and 2| with the handle 22. By preference, at least the front edge of the cover I9 is shaped to engage the wall flange I6 with a substantially sealing abutment. As shown, such shape may be arcuate.

One of the principal features of the present invention is to provide means for avoiding interference with movement of the cover by material which may after dispensing enter and become gummy or crystallized between the opposing faces of the cover I9 and the base wall I4. Such means includes bearings 23 (Figs. 1 and 3) which maintain a spaced relationship between the cover and base wall and limit the engagement of the cover to substantially a line contact (Fig. 4.). In the present instance the bearings 23 are formed as elongated, parallel raised beads upon the outer face of the base wall I4 and are located between the sets of guiding and retaining tongues 20 and II to engage the inner face of the cover adjacent the side edges. It will be apparent, however, that the bearings 23 or their equivalent may be 'iormed upon the cover member I9 if desired. As a result of the spacing and limited contact between the cover and the base wall any ordinary residuum of material that might find its way under the cover will not contact both the base wall and the cover and consequently will not have an adhesive or binding effect on the cover.

In addition to the contact-limiting bearings 23, means such as an outturned flange 24 may be provided along the inner edge of the dispensing aperture I5 for assisting in holding the cover in spaced relation to the base wall 14. Such a flange also functions to substantially clean the inner face of that portion of the cover which overlies the dispensing aperture by scraping oil adherent material as the cover is opened. This avoids the dragging of such material into the interracial space between the cover and the adjacent "portion of the base wall II. In the present instance the flange 24 is shown as formed by bending up a portion er the material of the base wall I4 which is removed in forming the dispensing aperture I5. Extensions 25 of the'scraping flange struck up along the sides of the dispensing aperture extend to the wall flange I6 and thus provide a complete curb around the aperture so that when the cover I9 is in the fully closed position abutting the wall flange T6 the dispensing aperture is substantially completely sealed. The side flanges 25 also. assist in shaping a discharging stream of material and aid in guiding back into the dispensing opening I5 such material as may-remain upon the pouring spout structure after a dispensing operation.

It may be desirable 'for some purposes toincrease the assurances of sanitary conditions in and aboutthe closure structure and in particular to avoid entrance of dirt into the space between the cover I9 and the base wall I4 and also to close such space against the entrance of insectssuch as ants. For this reason, in the modified forms shown in Figs. '5 to 9, enclosing means may be provided comprising downturned marginalflanges 21 formed integrally along the side and rear edges of the cover. These flanges 21 may approach the upper face of the base wall I4 as closely as practicable. At the front portion of the cover the flanges 21 slidably engage the side flanges 25 of the dispensing aperture (Fig. 6). The sliding cooperation between these flanges assists in guiding the movements of the cover l9 and especially accurate movement to closed position so that proper matching of the arcuate front edge of the cover and the wall flange l6 will result .at such times and thus assure a full sealing contact and closing of the dispensing aperture. The scraping flange 24 cooperates with the enclosing flanges 21 to maintain a fully closed condition of the interfacial space in the open condition of the cover.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 through 9 the marginal space-enclosing flanges 21 on the cover l9 are equipped not only to assist in guiding but also to aid in retaining the cover throughout its sliding movement, thereby eliminating the forward set of the guiding and retaining tongues upon the base wall [4. To this end, the enclosing flanges 21 along the forward section of the cover l9 are formed with inturned guiding lugs or flanges 28 which engage under outturned wing-like guiding flanges or lugs 29 formed along the edges of the side flanges 25 at the dispensing aperture. Thus, the guiding and retaining flanges 28 and 29 together with the rear pair of guide tongues 2| serve to confine the cover to its path of opening and closing movement. As shown in Fig. 7 the retaining and guiding flanges are preferably arranged to remain engaged even in the fully open position of the cover.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides an improved container having a novel dispensing closure arrangement which is constructed to avoid interference with opening and closing movements thereof by accumulations of gummy or crystallized material. This is of particular advantage in dispensing viscous, sticky materials such as table syrup or honey. The desired results are obtained not only by avoiding the dragging of adherent material on the sliding cover into the interfacial area between the cover and the adjacent wall of the container but also by maintaining a definite spaced relationship between the cover and such wall by means which limits to a minimum the necessary interfacial contact between the parts. Thus, even where a residuum of material may run under the cover and become gummy or crys tallized, it will not bind or interfere with the freedom of manipulated movement of the cover. The construction may also have means for closing 01f and thus maintaining a completely sanitary condition within the interfacial space between the cover and the adjacent container wall. The improved guiding and retaining feature for the cover takes advantage in a simple and eflicient manner of the improved structural relationships of the closure arrangement. It may also be noted that the novel closure arrangement lends itself to simple manufacturing processes and low cost production.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and have herein described in detail certain preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in a dispensing container, including a body and top Wall on said body having a dispensing opening of limited proportions, a generally elongated slida-ble cover for said opening, means on said wall for guiding and retaining the cover for longitudinal opening and closing movements relative to said opening, and a plurality of raised beads on said wall extending longitudinally of the path of movement of said cover and providing limited bearing engagement with said cover to maintain the latter in spaced relation to said wall.

2. A dispensing container comprising, in combination, means providing a dispensing aperture, means along the pouring edge of said aperture for directing flow of material therefrom, a slidable cover for closing said aperture and arranged when closed to abut said flow directing means, and a. flange structure about the remainder of said aperture in edgewise engagement with the inner face of said cover to maintain the cover in spaced relation to said first mentioned means and to scrape ofi material adhering to said inner face when the cover is opened, said flange structure cooperating with said flow directing means and said cover to effect a substantially sealed condition when the cover is closed.

3. In combination in a dispensing container construction, means providing a dispensing aperture, means along the pouring edge of said aperture for directing a flow of material therefrom, a sliding cover for said aperture adapted to cooperate with said flow directing means to cut off a stream of material upon being moved toward said flow directing means from an open position, and a flange along the edge of said aperture opposite said flow directing means in edgewise engagement with the inner face of said cover for scraping the latter substantially clean of adherent material when the cover is moved to open position.

4. A dispensing container adapted for use with viscous material comprising, in combination, a top wall having a limited dispensing aperture, a sliding cover for said aperture, means on said top wall for guiding and retaining said cover, means adjacent to said aperture for cleaning the inner face of said cover of adherent material as an incident to opening movement or the cover, means on said top wall cooperative with said cleaning means for maintaining a spaced relationship between said cover and said top wall, and means on said cover for substantially closing the space under said cover, said closing means cooperating with certain of said spacing means to assist in guiding said cover.

5. In combination in a dispensin container of the character described, means providing a dispensing aperture, a sliding cover for said aperture, means on said first-mentioned means for maintaining a spaced relationship of said cover to the underlying portion of said first mentioned means, and flanges along and coextensive with the opposite sides of said aperture and on said cover cooperating for retaining and guiding said cover.

6. In combination in a dispensing container having a wall including a dispensing opening, a slidable cover for said opening, means on said wall for maintaining an interracial space between Said cover and said wall, flanges along the sides of the cover for closing said space, outwardly extending lugs along the sides of said aperture, and inwardly extending lugs along the sides of said cover engaging said outwardly extending lugs for retaining and guiding said cover in its opening and closing movements.

'7. A dispensing container construction of the character described comprising, in combination, a wall having a dispensing aperture therein, an elongated fiat sliding cover for said aperture, means on said wall for maintaining the cover in spaced relation to said wall, guiding and retaining tongues on said wall spaced from said opening-and overlying the rear portion of said cover, and cooperating guiding flanges on the front portion of said cover and on said wall at opposite sides of said opening, the flanges on said wall being equal in length to the aperture.

WALTER F. STRAUB. 

